Control Data Corporation

Viewfacts, Inc.

John D Fourdraine

Russell J Welsh

Joseph A Damoci

Matthew F Kern

Apparatus in an automatic telecommunications system which communicates between a central location and at least one remote location over the switched telephone network, senses changes in loading of the telephone line which correspond to a telephone going off-hook, to serve as an indication that a telephone has gone off-hook and to cause the automatic telecommunications system to relinquish its use of the telephone line, or not to go off-hook if a telephone is in use.

Method and apparatus for determining when a telephone handset is off-hook

An electronic monitor and system for automatically monitoring broadcast band listening habits and periodically collecting data at a central location. The electronic monitor includes a microphone circuit and a tuner circuit. The tuner circuit is tuned until a match is found between the microphone circuit and the tuner circuit and the event of a match is recorded in the portable monitor. Operation may be performed intermittently to extend battery operation. The portable monitor further has power supply monitoring circuits to prevent incorrect data and loss of data in the event of battery discharge. Digitizing and signal processing circuits are provided to perform the match and loss of match determination.

Apparatus and method for automatically monitoring broadcast band

An automatic telecommunication system includes a central location and at least one remote location where a data reporting system including a modem is situated. The central location establishes communications over the switched telephone network to the modem coupled to a telephone line at the remote location. At least one telephones is also connected to the telephone line at the remote location. Circuitry is provided for suppressing ringing of the telephone when the central location initiates a call to the modem at the remote location. The circuitry includes a microprocessor for controlling the modem to respond to incoming ringing signals on the telephone line only during a predetermined time window. The circuitry also includes an arrangement for detecting a ringing signal on the telephone line and delivering an input to the microprocessor indicating ringing. The microprocessor delivers an output if the ringing occurs during the predetermined time window. Circuitry is responsive to the microprocessor output to drive the modem to go off-hook. A circuit driven by the microprocessor establishes a load access the telephone line when the modem goes off-hook for a predetermined time period to essentially short circuit the telephone line for a period of time sufficient to allow ring trip on the telephone line, thereby preventing any ringing of telephones connected to the telephone line.

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Toronto, Canada

John D Fourdraine